India, US Collaborate To Counter China Threat At Sea With World’s 1st Autonomous Underwater And Surface Vehicle 'Triton'
india, us collaborate to counter china threat at sea with world’s 1st autonomous underwater and surface vehicle 'triton'
New Delhi: Aligned with India’s vision for technological advancement, innovation, and indigenous manufacturing, India's Anadrone Systems announces a formal partnership with US company Ocean Aero. This significant collaboration positions the two companies as key contributors to the advancement of unmanned systems in India. This strategic alliance will introduce and implement disruptive maritime technology to the region through Ocean Aero’s Triton AUSV—the world’s first and only autonomous underwater and surface vehicle—which holds a promising set of applications for India.
This partnership aims to bolster the nation’s maritime capabilities across various sectors, including defence, environmental protection, and offshore industries. The Triton offers versatile solutions for maritime challenges and civil applications such as maritime domain awareness, port defence, sonar mapping, ISR operations, mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare, Oil & Gas exploration, underwater pipeline maintenance, seabed/oceanographic research activities, and environmental monitoring.
Cutting-Edge Technology and Reliability
The Triton, capable of operating both on the surface and underwater, is equipped with innovative technologies like 100 per cent solar power, multi-aperture side scan sonar, long-range acoustic sensing, and UAS ISR and weapon system launch capabilities. This unique combination of features allows the Triton to conduct vital monitoring and ISR tasks autonomously for up to 30 days, even in harsh maritime conditions. Triton’s persistent ISR platform and versatile mission capabilities are further enhanced by its ability to act as a communication extender in anti-submarine warfare operations, providing critical contact information via a mesh network radio.
Proven Performance and Global Deployments
Over the last two years, Triton's capabilities have significantly increased, evolving from R&D use by the US Navy and Coast Guard to full operational status with deployments in Task Forces 59 and 68. The Triton is now actively used by the US Navy, international partners, and commercial entities for a variety of missions, including mine countermeasures (MCM), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and environmental monitoring.
Versatile Applications and Cost-Effectiveness
The Triton’s application scope includes search and rescue missions, where its technology significantly reduces search times, as evidenced by the hypothetical rapid location of downed helicopters in challenging environments. Additionally, Triton offers substantial savings in offshore surveys for pre- and post-engineering projects, with up to 73 per cent savings in some cases. For instance, the Triton can replace multiple security boats for offshore installations like the IOCL Paradip, providing real-time surveillance and significantly reducing costs.
Commitment to Reliability and Performance
The Triton has proven to be extremely reliable, successfully navigating numerous storms and completing long missions without issues. Ocean Aero’s exceptional team ensures maximum operational readiness, swiftly addressing any challenges and performing maintenance efficiently. Recent exercises have demonstrated a 100% operational readiness rate, underscoring the Triton’s reliability and the team's commitment to excellence.
The collaboration between Anadrone Systems and Ocean Aero is set to profoundly influence maritime operations in India, integrating advanced technological solutions to enhance maritime security, environmental protection, and operational efficiency. This partnership not only aligns with India’s strategic goals but also introduces cutting-edge maritime technology to the region, promising significant advancements across various sectors.
Anadrone Systems Private Limited, established in 2004, specializes in the design, development, and production of comprehensive Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), including UAVs, Ground Control Stations, Launchers, and supporting equipment. With state-of-the-art facilities in Gurugram and Odisha and an upcoming facility in Bhubaneshwar, Anadrone has delivered over 1,000 high-speed aerial target drones, supporting over 300 missions for the Indian Defence Forces and weapon developers.
Anadrone Systems boasts a strong track record of providing mission services and target systems to esteemed clients such as the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, HAL, ADA, RCI, DLRL, ITR, BDL, BEL, and various private weapon developers. As the first company to secure contracts under the Make in India, Make II scheme from the Indian Army and the IDDM Category for Aerial Target Systems by the Indian Navy, Anadrone leads in innovation and excellence.
Committed to supporting the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, Anadrone has achieved an 80% indigenous content (IC) rate, with a target of 95% by 2024. Recognized for its technological prowess, Anadrone received the Best Defence Manufacturer Award from the Chief Minister of Odisha at the State Business Leadership Awards 2022.
Anadrone Systems holds certifications from ISO, DRDO (DLRL & RCI), and HAL, and possesses an Industrial License from DPIIT and a Production License. As a prime contractor for DRDO, Anadrone has provided aerial target systems under a rate contract for eight years and remains a trusted partner of DPSUs and international weapon manufacturers, further establishing itself as a cornerstone of India's defence indigenization and self-reliance programs.
With a vision to identify and integrate advanced technologies, Anadrone Systems continues to bring cutting-edge innovations to India, developing them indigenously to bolster the nation's defence and security capabilities.
About Ocean Aero:
Ocean Aero creates, manufactures, and distributes advanced unmanned ocean systems technology. Its signature product—The Triton—is the world’s first and only environmentally-powered Autonomous Underwater and Surface Vehicle (AUSV). The Triton both sails and submerges for unparalleled ocean data collection with ready-to-deploy packages and custom payloads for an array of applications. Ocean Aero brings the ocean and its data to you, with novel hardware and software that is revolutionizing maritime exploration.